HISTORY MONTH STRESSES ROOTS

Dr. Winston Alexis has never forgotten his first encounter with racism.

He was a 20-year-old soccer player on the Howard University team in 1962 when a restaurant manager told him and his teammates they were not going to be allowed to eat inside.

In the early 1960s, Alexis had played in matches across the Northeast. But after winning the 1962 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship, his team went to a restaurant on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The manager met them in the parking lot.

"He told us they were closed, but we could see people going in and out while we were talking to the manager," said Alexis, 53, an obstetrician from Trinidad who now lives in Plantation. "I was devastated. I wanted to leave the country ... I had never experienced racial prejudice before. I tell you, from them on I was the last one off the bus whenever we went to eat after our matches."

As another Black History Month begins, some Broward West Indians such as Alexis say they can relate to the struggle of American black people. They understand why a month is set aside each year for black people to remember their African roots.

Other West Indians say they have a kinship with American blacks, but can't understand what benefit anyone gets by remembering the African-American experience one month a year.

While the celebration of Black History Month typically includes West Indians and anyone of African descent, it originally was started in 1926 by noted historian Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week to recognize the accomplishments of black Americans.

"I've lived here for 35 years, and I went to school here," Alexis said. "I've seen two segments of [West Indian) people here. There are those of us who have been here a long time and realize that the black struggle is our struggle. Some of us who are new here don't understand that yet. But before long they will. We all have to be concerned with the problems that blacks in this country face. We all have roots in Africa."

Many islands in the West Indies were settled by Africans and Europeans during the slave trade. Most natives of those islands have black African, British, Dutch, French, Portuguese or Spanish ancestry. Over the years, distinctions between races diminished while distinctions by class or income increased.

As a result, many black West Indians experienced their first taste of racial injustice in the United States. Growing up in their island nations, they were unfamiliar with distinctions based on skin color.

"I think it's very important that everyone of African descent, whether American black or black West Indian, acknowledge our heritage," said grocery store owner Lynden Clarke, 46, who moved here from Jamaica 13 years ago. "This way we keep our children aware of where they're from."

Robin Christopher, also from Jamaica, agrees that it is important for people of African descent to remember their roots. But we are all human beings, no matter which country we come from, he said.

"We are constantly riding the issue that someone is white or someone else is black," said Christopher, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, who has lived in the United States for 11 years. "I don't have time to worry about that. ... When I grew up in Jamaica, I never heard anyone say things like he's black or he's white.

"I was called the n-word once since I've lived here, and I'll admit I was caught off guard," Christopher said. "But I just thought that was a person I did not want to deal with. I don't let someone's ignorance affect me in any other way."

Alexis said the biggest difference between black Americans and black West Indian natives is how blacks in America were treated during and shortly after slavery was abolished.

"British slave holders allowed many of their slaves to be educated, and when slavery was abolished, former slaves were allowed to take jobs," Alexis said. "In my day, I was allowed to go to schools with white kids and we could eat in any restaurant we wanted if we could afford it. We thought all the people in the country clubs were rich. It was only later that I realized that all people who belonged to the country clubs were white as well. But no one ever told me I couldn't go somewhere or do something because I was dark-skinned. It was because I was poor."

Haitian natives tell a similar story. The country had native Indians, but was controlled by the Spanish and the French, who brought large numbers of African slaves to work their plantations. Most Haitians are descended from the slaves.

"In Haiti, it's the money that distinguishes one person from another, not their skin," said Louis Louissaint, 34, of Plantation. "Many in the bourgeoisie are lighter-skinned, but they are Haitian. No one thinks much about how dark you are."

"Some of us move here and don't have much concern with black history at first, but if you spend much time, you will," said Louissaint, who has lived in the United States for seven years.